Aquin earns second-ever softball playoff win

Aquin put 17 runners on base Monday in an 8-2 first-round Class 1A regional triumph over Eastland, the second playoff win in Aquin’s four-year softball history.

By Adam J. Kradle

Journal Standard

By Adam J. Kradle

Posted May. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2013 at 1:02 PM

By Adam J. Kradle

Posted May. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2013 at 1:02 PM

FREEPORT

Aquin put 17 runners on base Monday in an 8-2 first-round Class 1A regional triumph over Eastland, the second playoff win in Aquin’s four-year softball history.

Eastland hurt itself by walking five batters, hitting one and making two errors.

“That had some nice hits, but we put too many on ahead of that to win the game,” Eastland coach Kristy Pierce said. “When you give away too many freebies, that’s what happens.”

Keely Scace earned the win in the circle for the Bulldogs (9-12). She helped her cause at the plate with a two-run triple and escaped a couple of early jams including a bases loaded, one-out threat in the top of the second.

“We seem to get into those a lot, so it was just a matter of keeping calm. We definitely kept our heads. That’s sometimes a problem for us, but this game we pulled through,” Scace said.

Haley Chang was the catalyst for the Bulldogs offense. The sophomore had three hits including a pair of doubles, got on base all four times and score three runs.

“She came through with some beautiful hits and hit some really nice spots tonight,” Aquin coach Rosemarie Brubaker said. “I’m just hoping she’ll be able to do that (today).”

Aquin will need a similar performance today when it faces NUIC East champ Milledgeville, which finished third in the state last year.

“Emily Bush is a great pitcher,” Scace said. “We definitely have a challenge for ourselves but I think we can live up to it, especially if we have the bats.”